New Zealand law change bolsters spy agency powers

Updated: 08/21/2013 11:05 PM KSTP.com

(AP) WELLINGTON, New Zealand - New Zealand passed a law Wednesday that strengthens the powers of its foreign spy agency to operate domestically.

The law now explicitly allows the Government Communications Security Bureau to spy on New Zealanders in cases when the agency has a warrant from a domestic agency. The contentious change was passed in a 61-59 vote on party lines, and the law is likely to take effect in late September.

Supporters said the bill helped clarify a legal gray area while opponents said it’s an unwarranted expansion of the agency’s powers.

The law change arose after the agency concluded that it had unlawfully spied on indicted Internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom before his 2012 arrest.

Dotcom was born in Germany but had become a legal New Zealand resident.